Portland’s 13 Best New Burgers

Just like 10% of Portland’s population, all of the burgers on this list appeared in the city in the last two to four months. Some are so exclusive that restaurants only serve 10 a day, while others cost so little that you can eat three without pawning your umbrella. And, more excitingly, one of the most famous and elusive burgers is now available during regular hours. Here are the city’s best new burgers.

Griddlestack Burger

Screen Door (address and info)Kerns Screen Door's Backyard Burger has a cult following, so deposing it is sort of like finding a replacement for Charles Manson. Fortunately, the new Griddlestack Burger seems to have the right blend of reason and insanity: two 5oz grass-fed beef patties that come with house-made pimento cheese, scallion mayo, lettuce, pickles, and onion.

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The Biwa Burger

Noraneko (address and info)SE Industrial Until a few weeks ago, Biwa's Japanese-style late-night burger was harder to find than pure dimethyltryptamine. Now, every Sunday from 6pm-2am, sister-restaurant Noraneko serves the beautiful amalgamation of beef patty, barbecued pork belly, kimchi mayo, and lettuce. Located beneath the Hawthorne Bridge, the restaurant opened in March, and this special started mid-June. Go now, before it's gone.

The Ltd.

Imperial (address and info)Downtown The Ltd. is one of the most over-the-top burgers to hit PDX in a while. Invented by Top Chef finalist Doug Adams, it features a wood fire-grilled 8oz patty that combines a house blend of ground short rib and house-ground Brandt dry-aged ribeye. To this succulent meatsterpiece, Imperial adds house-made steak sauce and Hook's blue cheese. It costs $24, and only 12 are sold a day (and only Monday-Thursday from 4-6pm). Thus the name.

Chateau Blanc

Tasty n Sons (address and info)Williams/Vancouver I could stop at the fact that the new slider from Chef John Gorham has house-made American cheese and was inspired by White Castle... but I won't. The creamy cheese is a mixture of Parmesan, Gruyere, and cheddar that has been liquefied using sodium citrate, and it also comes with shredded iceberg lettuce and house-made pickles. And at $4, you can basically order a Crave Case.

Double Brie Burger

Little Bird (address and info)Downtown In-N-Out expert Gabriel Rucker just released a Brie-splosion, the Double Brie Burger. Two St. Helens ground-chuck patties are individually topped with melted Brie and served on a Ken's Artisan Bakery roll with house-made Dijonnaise, spiced ketchup, onions, Mama Lil's bread & butter pickles, and iceberg-lettuce slaw. Even better, the $14 price tag is slashed to $5 during early and late-night happy hours.

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"10 at 10"

Smokehouse Tavern (address and info)Buckman Since when did burgers get rationed as much as cigarettes at What The Festival? Another limited-edition burger, the "10 at 10" burger is only available after 10pm and capped at 10 burgers total each night. Here's why: American cheese, bone marrow, bacon, and caramelized onions. It's just as delicious and ridiculous as it sounds.

House burger

Old Salt Marketplace (address and info)Cully Offering the only single-cow burger in Portland, Old Salt Marketplace grinds and makes its new house burger in-house from whole carcass beef. The 100% Hawley Ranch beef patty comes on a home-baked bun with aioli, house bread & butter pickles, Ben's bacon, and Tillamook cheddar.

Deluxe Burger

Portland Penny Diner (address and info)Downtown With the remodel and late-night hours comes a revamped menu with two signature burgers. Served at happy hour and dinner, the Deluxe Burger is two patties, bacon, secret sauce, white onions, American cheese, iceberg lettuce, and bread & butter pickles. Bonus: those already familiar with the diner's light and fluffy falafel find an update with the Falafel Burger, served with feta, red onion, tzatziki, cucumber, tomato, iceberg, and harissa.

Burger

lil' wares (address and info)Beaumont This lunch spot from Chef Johanna Ware of Smallwares opened this month and unleashed an umami-bomb of a burger: a ground-beef patty with American cheese, kimchi, hoisin, basil, cured cucumbers, mayo, and red onion. Chef Ware says that the restaurant may only be open through the summer, so get there now.

Olympic Burger

Clyde Common (address and info)Downtown Part of a menu overhaul at downtown’s cocktail-and-meat emporium, the Olympic Burger is a 100% beef patty with bacon jam, American cheese, bread & butter pickles, and fancy sauce for $12. There's also a 6oz happy hour version of the burger for $8.

Nonna Burger

Nonna (address and info)Concordia Italian sister to DOC, Nonna has a burger with better Italian accents than the cast of The Sopranos. Light and olive-oily, the Nonna Burger comes with mozzarella, arugula, and pesto.

Elk burger

Deschutes Brewery (address and info)Pearl District Teaming up with Face Rock -- a new creamery started by one of the founding Beecher's cheesemakers -- Deschutes released the elk burger, featuring wild elk, two-year-old cheddar, and thyme aioli. In addition, the Yellow Belly Burger brings the beef, along with root beer-braised pork belly, jalapeño pesto, Portland Creamery goat cheese, and candied yellow tomatoes. Obviously, they both pair well with beer.

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Screen Door knows Southern cookin', modeling their menu off of such spots as South Carolina Lowcountry and Cajun flavors from New Orleans. What's more, their meals are made with local organic produce and meats to ensure you appreciate the food as much as they do.

The menu is straightforward, with four kinds of ramen: shio, shoyu, miso, and a vegetarian, as well as fried chicken, gyoza, and a salad. And while the food is excellent, it's the cocktails that really steal the show here.

Imperial restaurant, located in the historic Hotel Lucia, is owned and operated by Chef extraordinaire Vitaly Paley. This spot has a modern bright interior, and all the food is dishes made with local ingredients. The menu's combination of new and traditional American cuisine can be paired with any of Imperial's fine wines, specialty cocktails or draft and bottled beers.

From the accolade-bagging dudes behind Le Pigeon, Little Bird plays to the strengths of their Eastside bistro with a simple menu of gourmet-level poultry and seafood dishes like chicken-fried trout and seared duck breast at super affordable prices. The swanky bi-level restaurant stays open until midnight, making it an ideal spot to camp out on the weekends with a large glass of vintage or valley wine or a craft cocktail.

Expect sloppy barbecue you know and love from Smokehouse 21. It's not a bad place to catch a Blazer game either. According to locals, Smokehouse Tavern serves up some of the best barbecue in Portland, and we can't help but agree.

Lil' wares serves up small plates meant to be shared, as well as a pretty tasty burger. The menu has an asian theme and the burger topped with kimchi, hoisin, pickles, red onion, and basil is a must try.

RingSide Grill is more than a country club. Although it is located in the Glendoveer golf course, it offers off-beat options likme Tex-Mex and a spicy, spectacular turkey burger with avocado, chipotle mayo, pepper Jack cheese, pickles, butter lettuce, and tomato. Visit the patio, where you can look over the rolling hills of the course, watch wealthy Portlanders chip golf balls out of the sand traps, or enjoy a drink by one of the several fire pit tables.

Clyde Common's rocking Prohibition era-themed cocktails are crafted by top-notch mixologists, plus this spot also offers European-inspired eats in its casual space Downtown. The trendsetting tavern has communal tables and small plates. Snack on truffle popcorn while you wait for your Heavy Petting cocktail, made with vodka, quinine syrup, lemon peel and grapefruit.

Drop in to sample the 18 varieties of beer on tap, as well as the selection of seasonal and experimental brews created onsite. You can also bring your own growler and fill it with your favorite hoppy beverage, although there are growlers for purchase if you're not already cool enough to own one.